The Silent Symphony: echoes of destiny.

"Echoes of Unmet Needs".

Hazel, a quiet and introspective girl, often found solace in solitude. She enjoyed spending time alone, lost in her thoughts or engrossed in books. However, her family's rigid mindset interpreted her preference for solitude as rudeness and arrogance. To them, Hazel's quiet demeanor and desire for personal space were seen as a direct challenge to the family's values and expectations.

Instead of recognizing and nurturing Hazel's unique personality, her family constantly criticized her, trying to mold her into their ideal image. This created a tense and unwelcoming environment for Hazel, where her natural inclinations were stifled and misunderstood. Despite the family's well-intentioned efforts to uphold their traditions, they inadvertently fostered an atmosphere of judgment and control, leaving Hazel feeling isolated and misunderstood.

Hazel Stewart had grown accustomed to her family's behavior over the years. She had developed a resilience to their criticisms and harsh expectations, learning to navigate their disapproval with a quiet strength. While their constant scrutiny and misunderstanding of her nature were a constant backdrop, she had managed to maintain a sense of self amidst it all.

However, recently, things began to spiral out of her control. Hazel found herself struggling more than ever. Her friendships, which she had always treasured, began to crumble. Friends she thought she could rely on started to distance themselves or outright abandoned her, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.

At home, no matter how hard she worked or how much she tried to meet her family's expectations, it was never enough. Her achievements were dismissed, her efforts unacknowledged. To her family, she remained a "loser," perpetually failing to meet their standards. This constant cycle of trying and failing in their eyes weighed heavily on Hazel.

Despite her inner resilience, the combination of losing her friendships and the relentless pressure from her family started to erode her confidence. The emotional toll was significant, leaving Hazel feeling lost and unsupported, struggling to find her place in a world that seemed increasingly hostile and unforgiving.

Hazel Stewart was a girl who deeply yearned for love, admiration, and a little bit of appreciation—basic emotional needs that she never received. Her quiet demeanor and preference for solitude masked a heart that longed for genuine connection and recognition. In her family, affection and praise were scarce, reserved only for those who conformed to their rigid expectations. Despite her efforts to excel and her quiet resilience, Hazel's achievements were met with indifference or criticism.

Her need for emotional affirmation went unmet, leaving her feeling invisible and undervalued.

Despite her inner strength, the absence of the basic human needs for love and recognition left her feeling profoundly lonely and unfulfilled.

Hazel woke up from her not-so-comfy sleep to the sound of her father shouting at her mother, Mrs. Stewart. The heated argument reverberated through the house, a stark contrast to the quiet morning light filtering into Hazel's room. Though the exact words were muffled, Hazel understood the gist of the confrontation. It was because of her. She had refused to eat dinner last night and had woken up late this morning—transgressions that had ignited her father's fury.

Hazel lay still, her heart heavy with a familiar blend of guilt and frustration. She knew that her actions, minor as they seemed, were seen as major breaches of the rigid expectations in her household. Her refusal to eat dinner was interpreted not as a personal choice or a sign of stress, but as a defiant act of rebellion. Waking up late was viewed as laziness and disrespect, rather than the consequence of a restless night and emotional exhaustion.

Listening to her parents argue over her perceived shortcomings, Hazel felt a wave of helplessness. She longed for a different life, one where her choices were respected and her needs understood. But in this household, her quiet resistance was constantly misinterpreted and punished. The shouting downstairs was a harsh reminder of the lack of empathy and support that defined her daily life. With a deep sigh, Hazel prepared herself for the difficult day ahead, bracing for the inevitable confrontation that awaited her.

By the time Hazel came downstairs, ready for college, her father had already left for work. She found her mother sitting on the couch, lost in deep thoughts. “Mom,” Hazel said softly. Mrs. Stewart, snapping out of her reverie, erupted with pent-up anger. Her voice was sharp, and her frustration palpable.

"You think you can just do as you please, Hazel?" Mrs. Stewart's voice trembled with a mix of exasperation and disappointment. "From now on, you will wake up early, prepare breakfast, leave for college, and come back home at the end of the day to prepare dinner. As for your studies, you have the whole day and night for that."

Hazel stood there, stunned by the barrage of commands. She felt the weight of her mother’s words pressing down on her, a suffocating blend of obligation and expectation. The lack of understanding and empathy from her mother cut deep, adding to the emotional burden she already carried. Nodding silently, she turned to leave for college, feeling the heavy chains of responsibility and disapproval dragging behind her.

Lost in her deep thoughts, Hazel trudged along her usual route to college, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread. She didn’t want to go to college, nor did she feel any comfort at home. Both places, which should have been sources of support and growth, had become burdensome and oppressive.

Throughout the day, Hazel struggled to focus on her classes, her mind repeatedly drifting back to the morning's confrontation. The weight of her mother's demands and the suffocating expectations gnawed at her. She felt trapped in a cycle of constant pressure and disappointment, with no reprieve in sight.

As the day came to an end, Hazel found herself taking the same route home, her steps heavy and her heart even heavier. The familiar path offered no solace, each step a reminder of the responsibilities awaiting her and the lack of appreciation for her efforts.